THE AMERICAN PRESS ON PRIVATEERING.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1344, 5 June 1878, Page 3

THE AMERICAN PRESS ON PRIVATEERING.

[From the “Alta California,’* April 13.] The telegram tp. the effect that many applications fov letters of marque have been received hy the Russian Government, in case of war between Russia and England, gives a rather plain and painful hint to those who might and would be likely to suffer in consequence. If Russia is not bound by any treaty to abstain from that method of destroying her antagonist’s merchant marine, the commerce of Great Britain might suffer to an extent that would bo painful to her pride and destructive to her merchant service. Her ships dots the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and harbors of the world. Since the commencement of our unhappy War of the Rebellion, England’s commerce has taken great strides beyond what it was before, notwithstanding its vast extent then. That war swept the commerce of the United States almost from the waters of the earth, and it was by British-built ships that this work of demolition was done—British ships built knowingly and intentionally for the purpose. Perhaps it might not be exactly just to charge that the British Government winked at this evident and intentional attack upon American commercebut it is a fact from which there is no getting away, that there was far 100 little care taken by that Government to maintain in spirit, as well as by word, the obligations one Government owes to gnpoher. For even when notified by OvX Minister of the intended failing of ships for the Confederate Service, it was difficult to get her authorities to act. Hence the Geneva Commission and the fifteen million dollars award.

That award sounded like a largo amount of money, but it was really only a trifie of the amount of damage done by ships built and partly manned by the British, and used by the Confederates. If revenge were a passion

worthy of enlightened, intelligent, and really civilised people, our people in case of a war between Russia and England might, by letters of marque, could such be obtained, avenge our former wrongs. For they would not be like the Confederate cruisers, without a harbor of refuge or supply in any port of the world, for Russia lias many. But, nevertheless, it is hoped that no American will attempt to despoil British commerce by preying upon the ships under her flag, and by seizing the property of individuals on the broad seas. If England committed errors and wronged us by building privateers for Confederate service, she has acknowledged that wrong by the treaty and award of the Geneva Conference ; and that settlement should be held as sacredly binding upon us. It would redound much more to the honor of the American name if no citizen of the United States would accept from the Russian or any other Government, in case of a war by the same against Great Britain, any offer of letters of marque, however advantageous, financially, might appear the opportunity and the offer. If our commerce has been injured by the British ships built on the Clyde and armed and manned by British seamen, it would redound much more to our credit and our commercial advantage eventually, should our seamen absolutely refuse to turn pirates under the name of privateersmen. Privateering is piracy, in spirit.